Samsung Steps Up to M&A Plate

South Korea’s Samsung Group agrees to buy German lighting specialist Novaled

Associated Press

Samsung Group is finally stepping up its M&A game.

On Friday, South Korea’s Samsung Group, through its affiliates, clinched a deal Friday to buy German lighting specialist Novaled AG for €260 million ($347 million), in a move highlighting the conglomerate’s ambition to expand in next-generation technologies.

That’s welcome news to investment bankers in Asia, who are no doubt waiting for one of the world’s largest technology companies to start doing more big ticket deals. Up until now, Samsung had mainly been making tiny acquisitions to complement its smartphone business, such as a 5% stake in Japanese stylus maker Wacom Co. in February.